The role of inflammation on GnRH synthesis in a hypothalamic cell line

• Grant number: 20/09992-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2020
• End date: September 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Joseane Morari Ricciardi de Aguiar
• Grantee: Luana Satelis Meira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07607-8 - OCRC - Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Obesity is a serious problem in contemporary society. Obesity is now known to cause hypothalamic inflammation that disrupts the functioning of anorectic and orexigenic neurons, which are responsible for controlling the nutritional status of individuals by increasing or decreasing body weight, respectively. This inflammation also affects other regions of the hypothalamus, such as the reproduction-related area, whose main representatives are the kisspeptin and GnRH neurons. These cells are part of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HHG) axis, and hypothalamic neurons communicate with the adenohypophysis through GnRH. Depending on the type of GnRH pulse rate, the secreted pituitary gland LH or FHS, which regulate germ cell production in men and women. The reproductive system, as well as the others, is associated with various diseases, including diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome and various cancers (breast, ovarian, prostate cancer), which do not have their well-defined origin and are sometimes associated with obesity and hormonal dysregulation. Therefore, understanding the relationship between obesity and metabolic dysfunctions of sex hormones is an important step in understanding these diseases and the consequent development of a treatment. Therefore, the present study proposes an analysis of GnRH secretion in the inflammatory condition, a link between a complication caused by obesity and a possible hormonal dysfunction.